1998 Hyundai Sonata: problems, recalls and reliability
1 recall and 49 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is power train (21% of complaints); the 1996 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Oct 2000
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 49 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Crack in gas tank discovered after several removals of tank to replace hoses, then clamps. Replaced 1998 tank with used tank from 1996 model. Within 3 month replacement tank was leaking from crack in same area as before. Discovered recall on this model and took vehicle to local dealer. Dealer refused to honor recall due to service performed in 2006 where they (supposedly) added check valve to prevent gas tank cracks from developing. Appeals to regional and national hyundai offices were also rejected. Dealer sent me away with seriously leaking / dangerous tank. *tr”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Nov 2007
“Tl*the contact owns a 1998 hyundai sonata. The contact smelled gas and noticed a gas leak coming from the fuel tank. Recall # 00v314001 (fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly) was found. The dealer stated that there was a hole in the gas tank, but refused to repair it because the vehicle was not included in the recall. The contact felt they should replace the gas tank as stated in the recall. The current and failure mileages were 117,000.”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Jun 2007
“Dt: the contact stated the check engine light is not functional and that the the obd to the system is not communicating. Due to this the evaporative system is not ready. This vehicle is not conforming to the clean air act and cannot pass emissions.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · May 2006
Show 7 more owner reports
“When driving out of my parking lot, two pieces of equipment fell off of my vehicle. One looked like a belt and the other a small drum. My automatic transmission would no longer function and I was forced to coast into a parking spot in the lot. *jb”Owner report · Power Train · Mar 2006
“Caller stated: brought car in for inspection. When the car was hooked up the monitor status with the onboard computer red not ready on everything. Mechanic told consumer that he had to drive the car on a highway for 20 minutes, then drop down to 15 mph for 5 minutes, and then repeat, followed by a rest period of 5 hours. All to get the computer to give out the correct reading.*ak”Owner report · Electrical System · Apr 2005
“The passenger window would not roll up, it got stuck in the middle of a rain storm. The passenger door will not open from the inside and the windshield wipers stopped working as well and replacing the fuse did not solve the problem. *jb”Owner report · Visibility · Apr 2005
“Dt: the drivers side door latch broke. Caller had to roll down the window to get the door opened. For about 6 months the handle had a hairline crack in it, and now the handle had 4 cracks. It is not strong enough to open the latch. Dealer and manufacturerr have not been contacted yet. Also caller had to replace all 4 of the window rollwers. *ak”Owner report · Visibility · Jan 2005
“After closing passenger door it will not reopen, inside door handle appears not to engage linkage, passenger would not be able to exit vehicle in a emergency, other similar complaints on file with ntsb. *ak”Owner report · Latches/Locks/Linkages · Dec 2004
“Follow up to complaint #10102430, pasenger door will not open from inside/outside, after removing inside door panel fished out a broken spring rusted through, was able to repair with $.50 spring from local hardware store, checked drivers side and found same spring about to rust through, if hyundai used stainless spring would have prevented problem, fell sorry for that person trying to seek medical help at a emergency room entrance when door won,t open, transmission also goes out of gear when after slowing for ez pass then slams into gear. *ak”Owner report · Power Train · Dec 2004
“There are many things that have occurred to my hyundai sonata 98 since I got the car as of september 2003. I've had to pay over $700.00 in transmission replacement costs, and fuel injection systems that had previously been fixed at the dealership while warranted (bob ciasulli hyundai). In addition, the driver's side plastic door handle is no longer working which was supposedly fixed by the "dealer service station". Later I found out there has been a recall on most hyundai 98 sonata models for the plastic door latch. I am unable to get out of the driver's side. A safety hazard. And even more frustrated and tired of dealing with bob ciasulli's dealership.”Owner report · Latches/Locks/Linkages · Apr 2004
When filing, owners marked a crash in 3 of these complaints and injuries in 3 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 1 campaign
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ACCENT GT MODEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DOHC ENGINES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 19, 1996 THROUGH JUNE 30, 1997; 1998 ACCENT MODEL VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 6, 1997 THROUGH JUNE 25, 1998; 1997 SONATA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1, 1996 THROUGH JULY 9, 1997 AND 1998 SONATA VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM JULY 9, 1997 THROUGH APRIL 24, 1998. THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEMS MAY APPLY EXCESSIVE VACUUM TO THE FUEL TANKS DURING THE CANISTER PURGE CYCLE. MINOR FUEL TANK DISTORTION COULD RESULT. A SMALL CRACK COULD DEVELOP ON THE UPPER FUEL TANK SURFACE. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WOULD THEN ILLUMINATE AND, IN SOME CASES, THE VEHICLE DRIVER COULD NOTICE A GASOLINE ODOR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL PRESSURE CHECK THE VEHICLE'S FUEL TANK TO DETERMINE IF IT HAS CRACKED. IF IT IS CRACKED, A NEW FUEL TANK WILL BE INSTALLED. A NEW FUEL FILLER CAP THAT DECREASES THE AMOUNT OF VACUUM INSIDE THE FUEL TANK WILL ALSO BE INSTALLED. NOTE: THE 1997-1998 SONATA FUEL TANKS HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED CRACKING. HOWEVER, AT THIS TIME, THE CAUSE FOR THE CRACKING HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED. THIS PORTION OF THE CAMPAIGN WILL BEGIN AFTER HYUNDAI HAS DETERMINED THE CAUSE AND CORRECTIVE PROCEDURE.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 1998 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Sonata by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Hyundai Sonata reliable?
NHTSA has 49 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on record for the 1998 Hyundai Sonata. The most complained-about area is power train (21% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1998 Hyundai Sonata problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 81,000 miles or less.
Does the 1998 Hyundai Sonata have open recalls?
1 recall campaign has been issued, the latest concerning fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.